December Newsletter
Year-End Giving
Make Your Year-End Gift Today!
There’s still time to make a difference AND enjoy tax benefits! 🌟 Support the Parkway Alumni Association before December 31st to help us empower students, support teachers, and sustain programs that benefit the entire Parkway community.
Your tax-deductible gift fuels scholarships, teacher grants, and awards that celebrate the dedication and excellence of our Parkway family. Every donation, big or small, makes an impact!
Donate now! Together, let’s continue building a brighter future for Parkway.
Leave a Legacy - Start a Scholarship Fund
Interested in our scholarship programs or want to create one to honor yourself or a loved one? Contact Sandy Riutcel, Executive Director of the Parkway Alumni Association, at 314-415-8074 (office) or sriutcel@parkwayschools.net for details. We're here to support your aspirations and ensure our alumni can continue their academic journey!
Dear Parkway Alumni,
As we close another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible difference the Parkway Alumni Association (PAA) has made in our community. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve been able to change lives across every corner of the Parkway learning community—students, educators, staff, and alumni.
From scholarships that empower students to reach their full potential, to grants that bring innovative ideas to our classrooms, and awards that honor the dedication of our teachers and staff, the impact of your support is both meaningful and far-reaching. Together, we are fostering a culture of learning, achievement, and support that benefits us all.
As we look to the future, I ask for your help in sustaining this important work. By making a tax-deductible year-end gift to the PAA Fund before December 31st, you ensure that we can continue to:
- Provide scholarships and unique opportunities for students.
- Support teachers and staff with grants that inspire innovation.
- Recognize and celebrate the excellence in our Parkway community.
Your contributions—whether through time, resources, or financial gifts—are what keep the Parkway legacy thriving. It is because of alumni like you that we can take pride in the impact we’ve made and look forward to an even brighter future.
Make your year-end contribution today.
Thank you for being a vital part of our mission. Together, we can continue to create opportunities that change lives. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a successful new year!
With gratitude,
Kennedy Graf, South '15
Local Hero
Meet 17-year-old Parker Brown, a Parkway South High School student whose quick thinking and bravery saved a life! While driving on an overpass, Parker noticed a distressed man leaning over the guardrail. Instead of driving by, he stopped, approached the man with compassion, and convinced him to step away from danger. Parker’s calm demeanor and kind words truly made a difference, demonstrating the power of empathy and courage. “I thought about what I would want someone to do for me if I were in his shoes,” Parker said. His actions remind us that sometimes, a moment of kindness can change everything.
Let’s celebrate Parker’s heroic efforts and his incredible example of selflessness!
State Champs!
THREE-PEAT ALERT! Let's hear it for Central Boys Swimming & Diving on capturing a third straight MSHSAA Class 1 state championship.
The Colts showed off their depth, sweeping the relays for a second year in a row and placing an individual in the top eight in all but two events.
“It’s all about the culture that the boys have established. Year after year, we have the buy-in and hard work, and each group has done what they need to do to protect that culture, strengthen it, and pass it down to the next group,” head coach Andrew Schonhoff said.
– Read about the performances and more from Schonhoff here at bit.ly/4fV7Ghm
– Caroline Greene / Ceci Tremont (@pch_publications)
Real-World Experience
How are Parkway students experiencing real-world application to learning?
Three teams from Central High and Spark! greatly impressed a group of engineers at the eighth annual Gateway Arch National Park Engineering Contest with their knowledge, precision, and professionalism. This year, the challenge for our aspiring engineers was to design a pedestrian bridge connecting the park's north overlook to the historic 150-year-old Eads Bridge.
Tony Gilpin of the National Park Service commended Keri Hohl and Brandon Franck's outstanding leadership and Parkway Schools for producing some of the best students in their contest. He also noted that the judges, who are retired from or currently in the engineering field, marvel at the high school students, who produce executive summaries better than they sometimes see from existing companies.
Highlights
Spark! – Spark!tacular and Archway Architects – 2nd & 3rd Place / Best Executive Summary - Archway Architects / All-Tournament Team - Layla Madison, Sam Ettinger
Central High – 4th Place / All-Tournament Team - Kathryn Ho, Aaron Loudenback / Taylor Tuleja McKelvey Award for Creativity & Ingenuity - Kathryn Ho
Calling All Alumni - Parkway is Hiring!
We need help at your school! We have openings for bus drivers, and many others for custodians and grounds crew employees needed to support our families. If you know someone who is interested, please share this with them. Interested applicants can call 314-415-8401 for more information or visit this website.
Class Reunions
Don't miss your opportunity to share in the memories and build the future. Find your class reunion information or start planning one!
Class Memoriam
Parkway Alumni Association extends condolences to family and friends of the following Parkway alumni and staff. CLICK HERE to read more.
Class Notes
Find out where Parkway grads are making their mark in the world. See our latest class notes here.